UN under secy gen Ladsous due on July 22

Under Secretary General (USG) of the United Nations' Department of Peacekeeping Operations (DPKO) Hervé Ladsous is expected to arrive in the city on a three-day visit to Bangladesh on July 22.

This will be the first visit of the USG level from the United Nations to Bangladesh, the top peacekeeping deployment country in the world, after the present government's January 5 election.

Mr Ladsous will lead his delegation constituting senior level members including the military deployment adviser.

Sources said the head of the UN DPKO holds the power of taking decisions in the number of peacekeepers and posting of peacekeepers at various capacities including force commander.

During the stay here, the USG will call on the President, the Foreign Minister, the State Minister concerned and Armed Forces members, visit the Bangladesh Institute of Peace Support Operation (BIPSOT) in Gazipur and take part in a dialogue on the present and future of the peacekeeping operation.

He is also likely to meet the Prime Minister being the head of the peacekeeping mission before his departure on July 24.